What Are Manual Tongs and How Do You Choose the Right Type for Drill Pipe and Casing?

Manual tongs are hand-operated tools used to make up (tighten) or break out (loosen) the threaded connections of drill tools and casing during drilling and well servicing operations. On the Jiangsu Rudong Lianfeng (SuRuLianFeng) product line, the representative model is the LF Manual Tongs, Type Q60-178/22, rated for 2 3/8–7 in pipe. Choose manual tongs when you need a simple, self-contained tool for connection work within that size range; choose power tongs or spinning tools when the job calls for higher torque, larger pipe, or faster repetitive make-up/break-out.

What manual tongs do

Manual tongs grip the pipe body or tool joint and convert the operator's pull on the tong handle into rotary force on the connection. They are used in both drilling and well servicing to:

• Make up screws (threaded connections) of drill tools and casing
• Break out those same connections when tripping or servicing

The LF Manual Tongs listing describes exactly this function: "used for making up or breaking out the screws of drill tools and casing in drilling and well servicing operation."

How handling size is adjusted

The LF Manual Tongs do not come in one fixed size for every pipe. According to the product description, the handling size of this type tong can be adjusted by changing latch lug jaws and handling shoulders. In practice this means:

• Latch lug jaws — the gripping elements that contact the pipe; swapping them changes the diameter the tong can hold.
• Handling shoulders — the load-bearing contact points that position the tong on the pipe.

So when you move between pipe sizes within the rated range, you change the jaw/shoulder set rather than the whole tong. Confirm the jaw and shoulder combination you need for your specific pipe OD before ordering.

Manual tongs vs. power tongs vs. spinning tools

These three categories sit at different points on the torque-and-speed spectrum. The table below uses the same dimensions so you can compare directly.

The source lists Power Tongs & Spinning and a Power Unit as separate product categories, which confirms they are a distinct, powered system rather than a variant of manual tongs. If your operation is shallow or intermittent and within 2 3/8–7 in, manual tongs keep the setup simple. If you are running deeper, larger, or high-repetition connections, the powered categories are the relevant ones.

Selection factors

Work through these in order:

1. Pipe outside diameter. The LF Manual Tongs cover 2 3/8–7 in. If your casing or drill pipe falls outside this, look at other categories (for example, slip-type elevators/spiders handle casings up to 20 in).
2. Job type. Drilling vs. well servicing — both are named as applications for the LF Manual Tongs, so either is in scope within the size range.
3. Torque requirement. The source does not publish a torque rating for the LF Manual Tongs. If your connection needs a specified make-up torque, verify it with the supplier rather than assuming.
4. Jaw and shoulder set. Match the latch lug jaws and handling shoulders to your pipe OD, since these are what set the handling size.
5. Related handling tools. Manual tongs work alongside elevators, slips, spiders, and bushings — the source lists all of these as separate categories, so plan the full string-handling set, not just the tong.

Safety and operational considerations

• Grip length matters for slips, and the same logic applies to tong contact. The source notes rotary slips are classified by gripping length (Ultra-Short SDS-S, Short SDS, Medium SDML, Extra Long SDXL) — SDS-S and SDS for shallow drilling, SDML for medium depth, SDXL for deep. Match the gripping/contact configuration to the job depth rather than using one setup everywhere.
• Use the correct jaw/shoulder set. A mismatched set is both a grip and a safety problem.
• Keep manual and powered tools in their roles. Manual tongs are for the connection work described; pipe weight handling belongs to elevators, slips, and spiders.
• Verify ratings with the supplier. The source gives pipe size ranges but not torque or load ratings for the manual tongs, so confirm these for your specific application.

Practical takeaway

If your drill pipe or casing is between 2 3/8 and 7 in and you want a straightforward, hand-operated tool for making up and breaking out connections in drilling or well servicing, the LF Manual Tongs (Type Q60-178/22) is the direct fit — just specify the right latch lug jaws and handling shoulders for your pipe OD. If you need higher torque, larger pipe, or faster repetitive work, step up to the power tongs and spinning category, and pair either choice with the correct elevators, slips, and spiders for handling the string.